The UK’s market-leading ambulance conversion specialist, VCS, is set to unveil Europe’s first 5.0-tonne front wheel drive, single rear wheel modular ambulance. Designed and produced specifically for St John Ambulance as a bariatric ambulance, the new vehicle is based on a MAN TGE and uses the new Promech-developed Ultra Low Floor Architecture (ULFA).
This is the first time a low floor bariatric ambulance has been offered to the market. Its 5.0-tonne gross vehicle weight makes it capable of carrying specialist medical equipment without any compromise to patient care.
VCS’s new bariatric ambulance is fitted with the manufacturer’s pioneering Core Capture lightweight composite body, which benefits from sleek air dam and streamer designs. It also features bespoke alloy wheels and uprated tyres, which are tested beyond the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight.
Mark Kerrigan, Managing Director at VCS, said, “Our new bariatric ambulance is truly unique, owing to the pioneering Promech-developed ULFA platform. By using the ULFA platform, we have been able to raise the MAN TGE’s gross vehicle weight from 3.5-tonnes to 5.0-tonnes, despite the vehicle’s front wheel drive configuration. Our in-house design experts have worked extremely closely with MAN Truck & Bus UK and its technical and homologation departments.
“This is the result of 18 months of comprehensive, constant, and rigorous development and testing, to satisfy MAN’s technical requirements and type approvals requirements.”
Graham Cann, Fleet Manager at St John Ambulance, said, “Our new fleet of low floor bariatric ambulances allows us to future-proof our offering to Critical Care Patients across our network. It has been a pleasure to work with VCS and MAN to deliver this market first, and I’m excited to see these vehicles deployed to deliver patient care across the country.”
Rob MacIntosh, National Fleet Manager at St John Ambulance, said, “The ambulance market has been looking for a five-tonne alternative to a custom-built box body with tail lift entry for a long time. I am delighted that our partnership with VCS and MAN has found the solution. The new ambulance’s low floor entrance, single rear wheel and box body is truly market-leading in the five-tonne C1 vehicle category and opens up future potential on so many levels.”
Daniel George, TGE International & National Key Account Manager, MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd, added, “Working on this complex and ground-breaking vehicle, with both VCS and St John Ambulance, has been an absolute joy. It was obvious at the initial planning stage that there was a collective meeting of minds and an open culture of partnering each other through the complex build process. The result is a stunning bespoke design and a true made to measure solution.”
